Foundry ladle



Oct. 5, 1937. 0.1.. COFFEY FOUNDRY LADLE Filed Dec l'l, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 5, 1937. o. L. COFFEY FOUNDRY LADLE Filed Dec. 1'7, 19:54

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIII/II/IIIl/lll/ Patented Oct. 5, 1937 FOUNDRY LADLE Oscar L. Coffey, Harvey, 11]., assignor to Whiting Corporation; Harvey, Ill.,' a corporation of Illinois Application December 17, 1934, Serial No. 757,852

1 4 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to foundry ladies. More particularly the invention relates to that type of ladle which is adapted to be transported to the flasks by a crane and then tilted to pour the molten metal therefrom.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a foundry ladle which is efiicient in operation and has improved automatically operating brake means for locking the ladle against movement by the load while permitting it to be tilted or shifted by the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foundry ladle which is generally of new and improved construction and may be manufactured at a low and .reasonable cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present ladle design will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

2 The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. 3

I In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a foundry ladle embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the ladle. tilting means. Fig. 5;,is a section on. line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line 66 of Fig. 5 showing the automatic brake device. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on line '!-I of Fig. 2. Figs. 8 and' 9 are enlarged sections taken on line 88 of Fig. 7 respectively.

The ladle which forms the subject matter of the invention is adapted for use in a foundry in connection with the pouring of moulten metal into flasks and comprises a pot a of any suitable construction. This pot is provided with coaxial trunnions a on the sides thereof and is pivotally mounted in a bail c whichis adapted to be suspended from a crane so that the ladle can be transported to the flasks or molds into which the moulten metal is to be poured.

The ladle in addition to the pot and bail comprises mechanism for tilting the pot for metal pouring purposes. The mechanism comprises a gear I5 which is keyed to one of the trunnions a a worm I 6 which engages and serves to drive the gear I5; a shaft I! which is fixed to rotate with 55 the worm [6; a helical gear I8 which is fixed to the shaft IT; a helical gear I9 which meshes with the gear I8 a shaft which is fixed to the gear I9; an arm 2| which is fixed to the shaft 20; a disk 22 which is provided with abutments 23 and 24 for engaging the arm 2| to shift it in opposite directions; a sleeve 25 which is fixed to the disk 22 and is journaled on an extension of the shaft 20; and a handwheel 26 which is fixed to the sleeve 26. The gear I5 and worm I6 are enclosed in a case 21 which is adapted to retain lubricant and is provided with a pair of oppositely facing lugs 28. A lug 29 which is fixed to one of the depending arms of the bail c extends between the lugs 28 and coacts with the latter to secure the case 21 against rotation relatively to the bail. The shaft I1 is journaled in ball bearings 3|] in the case 21. The helical gears i8 and I9 are enclosed in a chamber in an extension 2I of the gearcase 21 and this extension is also adapted to contain lubricant. vA removable head 3| is provided at the outer side'of the extension 21 to provide access to the gears I8, I9. The shaft 20 for the gear I9 is jo'urnaled in ball bearings 32 which are carried in the walls of extension 21 The top of the gear case 21 is provided with an opening through which a suflicient supply of lubricant may be poured into the gear case to submerge the lower portion of the gear I5. Thisopening is normally closed by a screw plug 34.

In a ladle of the type under consideration it has been found that the operation of the gearing in. tilting the ladle does not result in sufficient lubrication of the worm I6 and the helical gears I8 and I9, because the range of movement of the gear I5 in the operation of the ladle is not always sufficient to lift the lubricant to the worm and helical gears. Toovercome this deficiency means is provided for forcing a portion of the lubricant from the lower portion of the gear case 2'! and elevating it so it will be discharged onto or above the worm I6 and into the chamber in the case extension Z'I which contains helical gears I8 and I9, whenever the pot 0. is tilted in either direction. This means comprises anoil pump 35 in a well at the bottom of the gear case 21. This pump'comprises. a piston 36 which is pressed upwardly by a spring 31 and has its upper end 38 tapered as shown in Fig. 2. The tapered end of the piston rides on the periphery of the gear I5 with the result that the piston is reciprocated by the teeth whenever this gear is rotated in either direction. The piston 36 is slidably mounted in a cylinder 39. Oil passes from the supply in the lower portion of the gear case 21 through a pipe 4!] and a duct 4| in a block 42 to a downwardly closing ball check valve 43 which permits oil to enter the cylinder 39 on the upward or suction stroke of the piston 36 and closes the duct on the downward or pressure stroke of the piston. On the down stroke of the piston the oil in the cylinder 39 is forced through a duct 44 in the block 42 and a pipe 45 which extends upwardly and terminates above the worm l6 at a suitable point to discharge the oil onto the periphery of the worm. A pipe 46 leading from the pipe 45 discharges some of the oil from the pump into the chamber in the case extension Zl which contains the helical gears l8 and I9. portion of the gear I9 is submerged in the oil in the lower portion of the extension 27 and carries a portion of the oil to the gear IS. The branch pipe 46 extends through an opening 4! through which oil above a predetermined level in the extension 21 will flow back into the vlower portion of 'thegear case 21. A ball'check valve 48 is provided in the pipe 45 to prevent the backfiow of oil from the pipe 45 during the suction stroke of the piston 36. The case 2'! is formed with an integral well 21 for the pump. Preferably the cylinder 39 is formed in a fillingof babbitt or other suitable metal which is cast in the well 21 around the block 42 and the lower portions of the pipes 46 and 45. This constitutes an economical method for forming the cylinder of the pump in the well of the gear case.

In operation, whenever the wheel 26 is turned to operate the gearing for tilting the pot a in either direction, the pump piston reciprocates because of the action of the teeth of the gear l on the tapered upper end 38 of the piston 35. The pump piston which on its upward stroke will suck oil through the pipe 40 into the cylinder 39 and during the down stroke force'the oil through the pipe 45 so it will be discharged onto the worm l6 and through the branch pipe 45 to the chamber in the extension 21 of the gear case. As a result, the operation of the gearing for tilting the pot in either direction will operate the oil pump and force the oil so it will be discharged onto the worm I6 to lubricate the engaging surfaces of said worm and the gear l5. The lower portion of the helical gear l9 rotates in a bath of oil and carries the lubricant to the gear l8 and this is sufiicient for efficientlyflubrieating the gear l8 because in ordinary use the gear I9 is completely rotated. This mechanism exemplifies force feed means operated by the gearing for tilting the pot which elevates and conducts the oil to keep the gearing well lubricated at all times.

In order to lock the gearing and the pot against rotation, except through the handwheel |5, so that the pot will not be tilted by the load or pass beyond the control of the operator automatic braking means is provided. This means comprises a brake shoe 49 with a brake lining 59 which is adapted to engage the inner periphery of a drum 5|. The latter has a hub which is screw-threaded at 52 into one side of the extension 21 of the gear case 2'! and is locked thereto by a screw 53. The shoe 49 is carried by a pair of rollers 54 and 55 and is disposed between the abutment lugs 23 and 24 on the disk 22. A spring 56 is applied between the arm 2| and the shoe and serves to hold the lining 56 of the shoe in a very light frictional contact with the inner periphery of drum 5|. The roller 54 is adapted to be engaged by a cam surface 51 on the arm 2| when the arm is shifted in one direc- The lower tion by the load through the gears l5, |5, |8, IS SO that one end portion of the shoe 49 will be jammed against the inner periphery of the drum 5| and prevent movement of the arm 2| and the gearing. When the load which applied to the pot tends to move the gearing in the reverse direction an oppositely acting cam surface 58 on the arm 2| forces the roller 55 outwardly to jam the other end portion of the brake against the inner periphery of drum 5| and prevent the load from rotating the gearing. When the handwheel 2B is rotated in one direction, the abutment lug 23 on' the disk 22 will engage one end of the brake shoe 49 and the arm 2| to shift conjointly the shoe and the arm without producing any braking action between the shoe and the drum 5|. When the handwheel 26 is rotated in the opposite direction, the abutment lug 24 on the disk 22 will engage the opposite end of the brake shoe and the arm 2| and conjointly shift the brake shoe and arm without braking action of the shoe against the drum5l. This exemplifies an automatic braking device for preventing r0- tation of the gearing by the load or pot so the pot and gearing will remain in assigned positions. It will also prevent any overhauling of the gearing by the load. This automatic braking is of importance where the gearing is kept well lubricated.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a foundry ladle of the character described, the combination with a pot and suspension means whereby the pot is pivotally suspended, of mechanism for tilting the pot comprising a handwheel and gearing between said wheel and pot, a brake for the gearing, and means whereby the brake is automatically rendered operative when the load tends to move the gearing and inoperative when the handwheel is rotated.

2. In a foundry ladle of the character described, the combination with a pot and suspension means whereby the pot is pivotally suspended, of gearing for tilting the pot, a handwheel for operating the gearing, a case enclosing the gearing, a brake drum fixed to the case, a brake shoe engageable with the drum, means for shifting the. shoe with the handwheel when the handwheel is operated, and means between the gearing and the shoe for rendering the shoe operative against the drum when the load is applied to shift the gearing.

3. In a foundry ladle of the character described, the, combination with a pot and suspension means whereby the pot is pivotally suspended, of gearing for tilting the pot, a handwheel for operating the gearing, a case enclosing pension means whereby the pot is pivotally suspended, of gearing for tilting the pot, a handwheel for operating the gearing, a case enclosing said arm and said shoe being engageable by the the gearing, a brake drum fixed to the case, abutments when the handwheel is operated, said abutments movable by the handwheel, a brake arm being movable relatively to the abutments shoe engageable with the drum, and an arm proto operate the shoe.

vided with cam means for forcing the shoe OSCAR L. COFFEY. 5 against the drum, and connected to the gearing, 

